Statevide Results 



FISHERIES 



A total of 21,213 miles of streams in 4,238 reaches were 

 contained in the interagency stream data base (Table 1 and 2). 

 Due to insufficient data, only 2,521 stream reaches in 18,868 

 miles were assessed. Twelve percent, or 2,198 river miles, were 

 assessed a Class I fishery resource value including 161 reaches or 

 1,716 miles rated Class I for their habitat and species value and 

 35 reaches or 76A miles rated Class I for their sport fishery 

 value. Twenty-one percent, or 3,961 stream miles were assessed as 

 a Class II, or high-valued fishery resource. A total of 3,470 

 miles received a Class II habitat and species value and 1,260 

 miles received a Class II sport fishery value. 



The majority (66 percent) of reaches received a Class I 

 habitat and species value due to the presence of genetically pure 

 populations of species of special concern. Another 30 percent of 

 the Class I habitat and species reaches were essential spawning 

 habitat for a Class I fishery. Four percent received a Class I 

 status due to their outstanding spring creek values. Seventy-one 

 percent of these habitat and species reaches were located in the 

 upper Flathead River drainage, the upper Clark Fork River 

 drainage, or the Big Hole and Beaverhead watersheds (Table 3). 

 When stream miles were considered, however, the lower Missouri and 

 Yellowstone rivers and the Milk of eastern Montana contained 33 

 percent of the Class I habitat and species stream miles in only 15 

 reaches. Paddlefish and pallid sturgeon, big river fishes of 

 special concern, led to these statistics. 



It took an exemplary river to receive a Class I in the sport 

 fishery category. Only 35 reaches made the grade including the 

 entire Madison, the lower Big Hole, Rock Creek, the upper Flathead 

 and the upper Missouri. Fifty percent of the Class I sport 

 fishing mileage was found on the Yellowstone River and within the 

 Missouri headwaters. An additional 49 reaches or 1,260 miles 

 received a Class II sport fishery designation, including the 

 Bitterroot River (with the fifth highest overall fishing pressure 

 in the state) and large portions of the Gallatin, Smith, Clark 

 Fork and Kootenai. 



Only seven of the 4,238 reaches assessed statewide were rated 

 a Class I in both categories. All of these were major rivers 

 supporting species of special concern and providing outstanding 

 angling opportunities. Included in these seven reaches were the 

 upper Flathead and its North Fork and both the central and lower 

 Missouri and lower Yellowstone. Class I reaches in the habitat and 

 species category were awarded for the rarity of habitat for 

 populations of species of special concern. 



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